4A	The Daily News, Friday, July 28, 2006

Chelse's Greenhouse is a growing business in Elizabeth Township

By CANDY WILLIAMS
Business is blooming at Chelse's Greenhouse in Elizabeth Township.

Owner Nyles Falatek has just finished growing and selling his colorful summer annuals and perennials at 1191 Rock Run Road, the location of his three greenhouses. He always keeps an eye toward the next season's flowers. Some 6,000 chrysanthe­ mum plants in 24 vibrant varieties and 5,000 poinsettias already are growing in greenhouses, he says.

Falatek prides himself in offer­ ing top quality seasonal plants to his customers. Many of his hanging baskets, planters, annu­ als and perennials are on display at area residences and businesses including Butler's Golf Course, car dealerships and area gas sta­ tions.

"Everything is grown by me," he says. "Spring flowers are started back in January from unrooted cuttings, and mums and poinsettias are started in June," Falatek explains.

In addition to his greenhouse, he owns a 14-acre farm in the township, where he says he may eventually grow plants for his business. Currently he is grow­ ing pumpkins for the fall.

The Elizabeth Forward High School and Penn State University graduate has high hopes for his small business. He says that one of his biggest challenges is in competing with large nurseries and discount wholesalers in the

area that can offer lower prices due to high sales volume.

"I don't get bulk discounts, so it costs me more to grow every­ thing," he says. "The quality just isn't the same with wholesalers. I offer a better quality product at a reasonable price. My plants are grown on site with tender loving care. I'm a grower first, and retailer second. My custom­ ers tell me all the time, I am the best-kept secret in the town­ ship."

Falatek says his interest in growing started as a hobby start­ ed at a greenhouse he operated in his mother's backyard. The name of his company, Chelse's Greenhouse, pays tribute to his dog, Chelse, a black lab who died last summer.

His business is a one-man oper­ ation, he notes, except for the help he gets from his friends and family, and the constant compan­ ionship he has in his dog, Enzo, a 4-year-old St. Bernard who greets visitors at the greenhouse.

Before he opened his nursery, Falatek worked for the Army Corps of Engineers. His degree from Penn State is in environ­ men~al and architectural engi­ neenng.

Watch for the billboards adver­ tising the sale of the chrysanthe­ mums and poinsettias this late summer/fall and winter. Chelse's Greenhouse is open seven days a week. For more information, contact Nyles Falatek at 412­ 751-1660.

Chelse's Greenhouse owner Nyles Falatek shows off the hanging baskets that are such an essen­tial part of summer.